Mike | alt.languages.english
in <news:100ca6v7q3b3t56@corp.supernews.com>
> <yo@jazzfree.com> wrote in message
> news:6i23tvgva5o2if61ga39ijilcfsn4svndr@4ax.com...
>>
>> Hello all:
>> I would like to ask a native speaker whether or not adjectives "big"
>> and "large" are equivalent, i.e.:
>>
>> I have a large house or I have a big house (I think the first
>> sentence would be better).
>> This decision will make a big impact on my company's bussiness
>> (I think that in this case "large" would be wrong).
>>
>> I think "large" should be used to describe physical size, and
>> "big" is rather abstract . Am I right?
> They mean the same. Most Americans (probably 60%) would say big rather than
> large.
>
According to the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary,
big / large / great are frequently used with the following nouns:
big man
large numbers
great success
big house
large part
great majority
big car
large area
great interest
big boy
large room
great importance
big dog
large company
great difficulty
big smile
large eyes
great problem
big problem
large family
great pleasure
big surprise
large volume
great beauty
big question
large population
great artist
big difference
large problem
great surprise
"Large is more formal than big and should be used in writing unless it
is in an informal style. It is not usually used to describe people,
except to avoid saying 'fat'."
"Great often suggests quality and not just size. Note also the
phrases: a large amount of - a large number of - a large quantity of -
a great deal of - in great detail - a person of great age."
--
Enrico C ~ No native speaker
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